Social workers must be part of an interdisciplinary approach to hospital services, particularly ambulatory services. Getting results is the only way social work can maintain its place in the health care system. (JAC)

Currently death is a subject of much study and discussion. Hospital social workers should capitalize on this new climate of opinion by reaching out to terminally ill patients and their families. (Author)

Reviews the results of a shift in the circumstances of the deinstitutionalized mentally ill from care in state hospitals to legal prosecution. Discusses the reasons for this shift and describes a San Francisco program that attempts to deal with the problem. (JAC)

Based on research findings, author recommends training of medical staff on how to identify child abuse cases and how to report latter to appropriate agencies. Legal rights and responsibilities should be explained for both hospital administrators and medical staff. An interdisciplinary approach to treatment of child abuse cases is advocated. (SE)

A major problem of community mental health centers has been to provide an alternative to long-term institutionalization. The authors present a strategy for long term treatment for patients who require brief but recurring hospitalization. Their strategy involves visiting chronic patients at home and providing them with employment. (Author/SE)